Phrasal verbs with “go” are some of the most common—and confusing—parts of everyday English. Their meanings change depending on the particle that follows go, so understanding them in context is essential. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn all the important phrasal verbs with go, including clear meanings, grammar notes, pronunciation, examples, and real-life usage.
This lesson covers essential phrasal verbs such as go after, go against, go ahead, go along, go around, and many more, helping you communicate naturally and confidently in conversations, meetings, and everyday writing.
List of Common Phrasal Verbs with GO
Here are all 26 essential phrasal verbs with go that you’ll encounter in daily conversation:
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Go after
Go against
Go ahead
Go all out
Go along
Go around
Go at
Go away
Go back
Go by
Go down
Go for
Go for it
Go in
Go into
Go off
Go on
Go out
Go over
Go so far as
Go through
Go through with
Go towards
Go under
Go up
Go with
Phrasal Verbs with GO: Meaning and Examples
Below is a comprehensive breakdown of all 26 phrasal verbs with go, organized with clear meanings, real-world examples, and essential grammar rules.
Go after
/ɡəʊ ˈɑːf.tər/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To try to get or achieve something.
She decided to go after a promotion at work.
📖 2To pursue or chase someone.
The dog went after the ball across the park.
🔄 Synonyms:PursueSeekChase
Go against
/ɡəʊ əˈɡenst/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To oppose or resist something.
He refused to go against his values.
📖 2To act contrary to beliefs or values.
I can’t go against the team’s decision.
🔄 Synonyms:OpposeResistDefy
Go ahead
/ɡəʊ əˈhed/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To proceed or continue, often with permission.
You can go ahead with the meeting.
📖 2To advance or move forward.
They went ahead with the renovation project.
🔄 Synonyms:ProceedContinueAdvance
Go all out
/ɡəʊ ɔːl aʊt/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To put in maximum effort and energy.
They went all out to impress the clients.
📖 2To do something with complete commitment.
She goes all out for her children’s birthday parties.
🔄 Synonyms:Spare no effortDo one’s best
Go along
/ɡəʊ əˈlɒŋ/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To agree with someone or accept a decision.
I didn’t like the idea, but I went along with it.
📖 2To make progress or develop.
The project is going along smoothly.
🔄 Synonyms:AgreeComplyProgress
The first five phrasal verbs with go focus on movement, direction, and agreement. “Go after” and “go against” express pursuit or opposition, while “go ahead,” “go all out,” and “go along” relate to proceeding and accepting decisions. These foundational verbs establish core meanings of action, pursuit, and choice.
Go around
/ɡəʊ əˈraʊnd/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To move from place to place.
We went around the city by bike.
📖 2To spread from person to person (information, rumors, illness).
A rumor is going around the office.
🔄 Synonyms:CirculateSpreadTravel
Go at
/ɡəʊ æt/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To attack or tackle something aggressively.
She went at the task with energy and determination.
📖 2To approach with energy or enthusiasm.
The boxer went at his opponent fiercely.
🔄 Synonyms:AttackTackleConfront
Go away
/ɡəʊ əˈweɪ/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To leave a place or depart.
We’re going away on vacation next month.
📖 2To disappear or cease to exist.
The pain finally went away after treatment.
🔄 Synonyms:LeaveDisappearDepart
Go back
/ɡəʊ bæk/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To return to a previous place or situation.
Let’s go back to the original plan.
📖 2To revert or return to an earlier state.
I went back to the store to check if they had more items.
🔄 Synonyms:ReturnRevertRetreat
Go by
/ɡəʊ baɪ/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1For time to pass or elapse.
The years went by quickly.
📖 2To follow rules, guidelines, or information.
We must go by the safety rules at all times.
🔄 Synonyms:PassFollowAbide by
These next five phrasal verbs (go around through go by) emphasize movement and time. “Go around” means circulate or spread, “go at” expresses aggressive approach, while “go away” and “go back” describe departure and return. “Go by” relates both to time passing and following rules. Together, these verbs cover spatial movement, time passage, and directional action.
Go down
/ɡəʊ daʊn/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To decrease in amount or level.
Prices have gone down significantly.
📖 2To sink or fall.
The ship went down in the storm.
📖 3To be remembered in a particular way.
That speech will go down in history.
🔄 Synonyms:DecreaseSinkDecline
Go for
/ɡəʊ fɔːr/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To like or prefer something.
I usually go for simple designs.
📖 2To fetch or get something.
I’ll go for some coffee.
📖 3To attempt or strive for something.
She’s going for the championship title.
🔄 Synonyms:PreferFetchAim for
Go for it
/ɡəʊ fɔːr ɪt/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1An encouragement to try or attempt something brave.
If you want the job, go for it!
📖 2To pursue an opportunity with confidence.
Apply for the scholarship—go for it with confidence.
🔄 Synonyms:TrySeize the opportunity
Go in
/ɡəʊ ɪn/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To enter a place.
She went in to speak to her boss.
📖 2To become involved in something.
He went in on the business venture with friends.
🔄 Synonyms:EnterJoin
Go into
/ɡəʊ ˈɪn.tuː/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To enter a place or situation.
She went into the conference room.
📖 2To discuss or examine something in detail.
He didn’t go into details about the incident.
📖 3To start a career or profession.
She went into medicine after graduation.
🔄 Synonyms:EnterDiscussPursue
These five phrasal verbs (go down through go into) involve decreases, preferences, and entering situations. “Go down” expresses decrease and sinking, “go for” and “go for it” relate to preference and encouragement, while “go in” and “go into” describe entering places or professions. These verbs cover quantitative changes, selection, and entry into spaces or careers.
Go off
/ɡəʊ ɒf/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To make a loud noise (alarm, bomb, gun).
The alarm went off at 6 a.m.
📖 2For food to become spoiled or rotten.
The milk has gone off—it smells sour.
📖 3To stop functioning or break.
The heating system went off during the night.
🔄 Synonyms:RingSpoilStop
Go on
/ɡəʊ ɒn/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To continue doing something.
Please go on with your story.
📖 2To happen or take place.
I don’t know what’s going on in that office.
📖 3To talk for too long or ramble.
He kept going on about his achievements.
🔄 Synonyms:ContinueHappenRamble
Go out
/ɡəʊ aʊt/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To leave home for social activity.
I’m going out with friends tonight.
📖 2To stop burning or shining.
The lights went out suddenly.
📖 3To date someone romantically.
She’s going out with him for three months.
🔄 Synonyms:LeaveBe extinguishedDate
Go over
/ɡəʊ ˈəʊ.vər/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To review or examine something carefully.
Let’s go over the report before the meeting.
📖 2To check through details systematically.
He went over his notes before the exam.
🔄 Synonyms:ReviewCheckExamine
Go so far as
/ɡəʊ səʊ fɑːr æz/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To do something extreme, unexpected, or unreasonable.
He wouldn’t go so far as to lie for his friend.
📖 2To go to the extent of doing something unusual.
She went so far as to change her entire appearance.
🔄 Synonyms:Go to the extent ofEven do
These five phrasal verbs (go off through go so far as) relate to sounds, events, and examination. “Go off” expresses alarms and spoilage, “go on” means continue or happen, while “go out” involves leaving or extinction. “Go over” and “go so far as” describe reviewing carefully and acting extremely. Together, these verbs cover auditory events, continuation, social activities, and careful examination.
Go through
/ɡəʊ θruː/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To experience something difficult or unpleasant.
She went through a difficult time after her divorce.
📖 2To examine or check something carefully.
He went through the contract line by line.
📖 3To use up or consume completely.
We went through our savings in six months.
🔄 Synonyms:ExperienceExamineUse up
Go through with
/ɡəʊ θruː wɪð/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To complete something despite doubts or difficulties.
She went through with the wedding despite her concerns.
📖 2To follow through on a commitment or plan.
They went through with the merger as planned.
🔄 Synonyms:Carry outFollow through
Go towards
/ɡəʊ təˈwɔːdz/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To move in the direction of something.
We walked towards the exit.
📖 2To contribute to or help achieve a result.
The money will go towards education programs.
🔄 Synonyms:Move towardContribute to
Go under
/ɡəʊ ˈʌn.dər/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To fail financially or go bankrupt.
The company nearly went under during the recession.
📖 2To be known by a particular name (often false).
He goes under a false name in that community.
🔄 Synonyms:FailSinkCollapse
Go up
/ɡəʊ ʌp/intransitiveinseparable
📖 1To increase in amount or level.
Prices have gone up significantly.
📖 2To be built or constructed.
A new building is going up downtown.
📖 3To be destroyed by fire or explosion.
The house went up in flames.
🔄 Synonyms:IncreaseRiseBe constructed
These five phrasal verbs (go through through go up) involve experiencing difficulties, completing actions, and financial changes. “Go through” expresses experiencing or examining carefully, “go through with” means completing despite doubts, while “go towards” describes movement and contribution. “Go under” and “go up” relate to financial failure and increase. These verbs cover the complete spectrum of experiencing, completing, moving, and quantitative changes.
Go with
/ɡəʊ wɪð/transitiveinseparable
📖 1To choose or accept something as an option.
I’ll go with your idea—it makes sense.
📖 2To match or coordinate with something.
This shirt goes with those jeans perfectly.
📖 3To accompany someone.
Would you like to go with me to the concert?
🔄 Synonyms:ChooseAcceptMatch
PinPopular phrasal verbs with GO and their meanings for everyday English
Common Mistakes with Phrasal Verbs with GO
Learners often confuse or misuse phrasal verbs with go. Here are three common mistakes and how to correct them:
❌ Wrong“I will go away your offer because it’s not good.” (Incorrect—”go away” means leave, not refuse)
✅ Correct“I will turn down your offer because it’s not good.” (Correct—means refuse or decline)
❌ Wrong“She’s going up to the party in a beautiful gown.” (Incorrect—”go up” means increase or be constructed, not attend)
✅ Correct“She’s going to the party in a beautiful gown.” (Correct—means attend or go to an event)
❌ Wrong“My friend went against to my idea.” (Incorrect—extra preposition; “go against” doesn’t use “to”)
✅ Correct“My friend went against my idea.” (Correct—means opposed or contradicted my idea)
Key Grammar Notes
Dialogue Examples
💬 Making a Decision
A
We have two design options. Which one should we choose?
B
I’d go with the simpler layout. It’s cleaner and easier to use.
A
I agree. Let’s go ahead with that one.
💬 Encouragement and Support
A
I’m nervous about applying for that scholarship.
B
You’re qualified. Go for it! The worst they can say is no.
A
You’re right. I’ll submit the application tonight.
💬 Discussing Price Changes
A
Are groceries more expensive now?
B
Yes, prices have gone up a lot recently.
A
I hope they go down soon.
PinPhrasal verbs with GO used in real sentences and examples
PinUseful phrasal verbs with GO and their meanings in English
